Cigarette-smoker&#39;s set



Dec. 3, 1929. ,B. F. CONNER CIGARETTE SMOKERS SET Filed Sept. 24, 1928 Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BENJAMIN F. CONNER, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO COLTS PATENT FIRE ARMS MANUFACTURING 00., F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT CIGARETTE-SMOKERS SET Application filed September 24, 1928. Serial No. 307,804.

The invention relates to a device of the type specified having provision for holding cigarettes in vertical positions and adapted for rendering them readily accessible. Pref- 6 erably compartments are provided permitting several different varieties of cigarettes to be held and to be kept separate from each other. In addition there is preferably provided a central receiver surrounded by the 0 space for the cigarettes and adapted for receiving burnt matches, ashes, cigarette stubs and the like. There is further preferably provided a holder or tray located above the cigarettes and adapted for supporting partly consumed cigarettes, this holder or tray also constituting the closure for the main container. A removable cover additional to the aforesaid parts may also be provided.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the embodiment of the invention which I now deem preferable but it will be understood that the drawings are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part0 this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a combined elevational and central vertical sectional view of the device a shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the device with the cover removed.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4= of Fig. 6 with the cover and ash receiver removed and with the movable parts in their uppermost positions.

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional View showing the removable ash receiver.

Fig. 6 is a combined plan and sectional view, this view being in section along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing an alternative detail.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the main container which is initially open at the top and which is preferably substantially cylindrical in form. The container 1 has a peripheral wall 2 and a bottom wall 3. The

f are of such relative proportions that the container is shown as provided with supports 4, 4 which may be formed of felt or other suitable material.

Positioned within the container and vertically movable with respect thereto is a support 5. The container 1 is adapted to contain articles such as cigarettes arranged vertically and the support 5 is so located within the container that the cigarettes engage it at their lower ends. By preference the support 5 has radial partitions 6 thereon dividing the interior of the container into a plurality of sectoral compartments 7, 7. The several compartments 7, 7 may be used for different varieties or brands of cigarettes.

Preferably there is provided a top closure for the container this being represented at 8. This top closure normally rests on the top edge of the peripheral wall 2 of the container with the main portion thereof above the tops of the cigarettes as shown in Fig. 2. The closure 8 may have a depending annular flange 9 engaging the wall 2, and when such a flange is provided the wall 2 and the flange flange surrounds the upper ends of the cigarettes as shown.

Between the closure 8 and the support 5 there is interposed a lost motion connection which permits limited upward movement of the closure independently of the support and which at the conclusion of such limited independent movement causes the support to move upward with the closure thus moving the cigarettes upward with respect to the container to positions facilitating the manual withdrawal thereof. The details of this lost motion connection may be varied widely but I prefer to provide a connection so constructed as to enable me to also provide a centrally located receiver such as will now be described.

The receiver as a whole is represented at 10, being normally centrally located within the container 1 and being carried by the 010- 95 sure 8. The closure 8 as shown is provided with a depending cylindrical portion or member 11 preferably formed integrally therewith, and the receiver 10 is positioned with in the cylindrical member 11, being remov- 100 able therefrom and from the closure 8 in the.

upward direction. The receiver 10 is flanged outward preferably conically as indicated at 10 in order to hold it in position with respect to the closure 8. The closure 8 is provided with a conical surface at 12 to engage the ortion 10 of the receiver, and there may e an offset or shoulder at 12 to facilitate the passage of ashes into the receiver. The support 5 has a cylindrical portion 13 which surrounds and slidably engages the said cylindrical member 11. One of the said cylindrical portions or members 11 and 13 is provided with a slot closed at one end and the other is provided with a projection extending into the slot. As shown the cylindrical portion 13 has at least one and preferably two slots 14, 14 formed therein, these slots being open at the bottom and closed at the top. The cylindrical member 11 has projections 15, 15 extending into the slots 14, 14 these projections being shown as the heads of screws. It will be seen that the said slots and projections provide a lost motion connection between the two cylindrical members and therefore provide a lost motion connection between the closure 8 and the receiver 10 on the one hand the support 5 on the other hand.

When the parts are in normal position as shown in Fig. 2 the cigarettes are entirely enclosed with their upper portions projecting into the space within the depending flange 9 of the closure 8. When it is desired to obtain access to the cigarettes the closure 8 and the receiver carried thereby are raised, the said closure and receiver first moving upward independently of the support until the screws 15, 15 engage the ends of the slots 14, 14. This separates the closure 8 from the tops of the cigarettes and continued upward movement of the closure 8 carries the support 5 with it, thus moving the cigarettes upward with respect to the container to the osition shown in Fig. 4 where they are read- 11y accessible for manual withdrawal.

In order that the support 5 may not be inadvertently lifted so far as to permit the cigarettes to fall out I preferably provide a stop such as 16 for limiting the upward movement of the support. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4.- the stop 16 is a pin fixed in place. As shown in Fig. 7 the stop may be a screw 16 removable to permit the support to be entirely removed from the contalner when desired.

Preferably the member 8 serves not only as a closure for the container as already described, but also serves as a holder or tray for partly consumed cigarettes. In order that the member 8 may serve as such a holder or tray it has suitable provision for holding artly consumed cigarettes and as shown it is provided with grooves or depressions 17, 17 formedtherein for that purpose.

In order that the entire upper portion of the device, that is, the receiver 10 and the 010- sure 8 servin r as a tray, may be closed to prevent the dispersion of odors and to enhance the appearance, I provide a removable top cover 18 having a depending annular flange 19 and a knob or handle 20. The flange 19 extends downward below the bottoms of the grooves 17, 17, thus effectively enclosing the entire upper portion of the device. As the result of the provision of the cover 18 the device as a whole is given the appearance of a box or jar without any outward suggestion of its usefulness as a cigarette smokers set.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of an open top outer container Within which articles such as cigarettes may be placed in vertical positions, a vertically movable support in the container with which the cigarettes engage at their lower ends, the said support being provided with vertical radial partitions dividing the interior of the container into a plurality of sectoral compartments, a closure for the container normally resting on the top edge of the peripheral wall thereof, and a lost motion connection between the closure and the support permitting limited upward movement of the closure independently of the support and at the conclusion of such limited independent movement causing the support to move upward with the closure thus moving the cigarettes upward with respect to the container to positions facilitating manual withdrawal thereof.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of an open top outer container within which articles such as cigarettes may be placed in vertical positions, a vertically movable support in the container with which the cigarettes engage at their lower ends,-a closure for the container having a depending annular flange normally surrounding the upper ends of the cigarettes and resting on the top edge of the peripheral wall of the container, and a lost motion connection between the closure and the sup ort permitting limited upward movement of the closure independently of the su port to bring the said flange above the tops 0 the cigarettes and at the conclusion of such limited independent movement causing the support to move upward with the closure thus moving the cigarettes upward with respect to the container to positions facilitating manual withdrawal thereof.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a central vertically movable open top receiver, an open top outer container within which the receiver is located and within which articles such as cigarettes may be placed in vertical positions surrrounding the receiver, and a support in the container with which the cigarettes engage at their lower ends, the said support being vertically movable with the receiver to move the cigarettes'upward with respect to the container to positions facilitating manual withdrawal thereof.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a central vertically movable open top receiver, an open top outer container within which the receiver is located and within which articles such as cigarettes may be placed in vertical positions surrounding the receiver, and a support in the container with which the cigarettes engage at their lower ends, the said support being novidcd with vertical radial partitions divi ing the interior of the container into a plurality of sectoral compartments surrounding the receiver and the said support being vertically movable with the receiver to move the cigarettes upward with respect to the container to positions facilitating manual withdrawal thereof.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of an open top outer container, a closure for the container normally resting on the top edge of the peripheral wall thereof, a central open top receiver carried by the closure and normally projecting downward into the receiver, and a vertically movable support in the container adapted to engage the lower ends of cigarettes placed in the container and surrounding the receiver, the said support being vertically movable with the closure and receiver to move the cigarettes upward with respect to the container to positions facilitating manual withdrawal thereof.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a central vertically movable open top receiver, an open top outer container within which the receiver is located and within which articles such as cigarettes may be placed in vertical positions surrounding the receiver, a vertically movable support in the container with which the cigarettes engage at their lower ends, and a lost motion connection between the receiver and the support permitting limited upward movement of the receiver independently of the support and at the conclusion of such limited independent movement causing the support to move upward with the receiver thus moving the cigarettes upward with respect to the container to positions facilitating manual withdrawal thereof.

7 In a device of the character described, the combination of a central vertically movable cylindrical member, an open top outer container within which the cylindrical member is located and within WhlCh articles such as cigarettes may be placed in vertical positions surrounding the cylindrical member, a vertically movable support in the container with which thecigarettes engage at their lower ends, the said support having a vertically slotted cylindrical portion surrounding and shdably engaging the said cylindrical member, and a projection on the cylindrical member extending into a slot in the cylindrical portion of the support, the said projection and slot providing a lost motion connection between the cylindrical member and the support permitting limited upward movement of the cylindrical member independently of the support and at the conclusion of such limited independent movement causing the support to move upward with the cylindrical member thus moving the cigarettes upward with respect to the contamer to positions facilitating manual withdrawal thereof.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of an open top outer contamer, a closure for the container normally resting on the stop 'edge of the peripheral wall thereof, a central open top receiver carrled by the closure and normally projecting downward into the receiver, a vertically movable support in the container adapted to engage the lower ends of cigarettes placed in the container and surrounding the receiver, and a lost motion connection between the closure and the support permitting limited upward movement of the closure and receiver independently of the support and at the conclusion of such limited independent movement causing the support to move upward with the closure and receiver thus moving the cigarettes upward with respect to the container to positions facilitating manual withdrawal thereof.

9. In a device of the character described being vertically movable with the closure and receiver to move the cigarettes upward with respect to the container to positions facilitating manual withdrawal thereof.

10. In a device of the character described the combination of an open top outer container, a closure for the container normally resting on the top edge of the peripheral wall thereof and having provision at its top for holding partly consumed cigarettes, a central open top receiver carried by the closure and normally projecting downward into the receiver, a vertically movable support in the container adapted to engage the lower ends of cigarettes placed in the container and surrounding the receiver, the said support being vertically movable with the closure and receiver to move the cigarettes upward with respect to the containerto positions facilitating manual withdrawal thereof, and a removable eover serving when in place to entirely cover and enclose the said receiver and the top of the said closure.

11. In a device of the character described the combination of an open top outer container, a closure for the container normally resting on the top edge of the peripheral wall thereof and having provision at its top for holding partly consumed cigarettes, a central open top receiver carried by the closure and normally projecting downward into the receiver, a vertically movable support in the container adapted to engage the lower ends of cigarettes placed in the container and surrounding the receiver, a lost motion connection between the closure and the support permitting limited upward movement of the closure and receiver independently of the suport and at the conclusion of such limited lndependent movement causing the support to move upward with the closure and receiver thus moving the cigarettes upward with respect to the container to positions facilitating manual withdrawal thereof, and a removable cover serving when in place to entirely cover and enclose the said receiver and the top of the said closure.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of September, 1928.

BENJAMIN F. CONNER. 

